Regular Season Champs Soccer Head To Tourney

North Texas takes on the Sun Belt in the 2011 Conference Tournament, and enters the competition as the No.1 seed for the first time since 2005. North Texas won the Sun Belt Regular Season in its last game, beating Denver in a winner-take-all matchup

Mean Green Take On SBC Tourney As No. 1 SeedNorth Texas takes on the Sun Belt in the 2011 Conference Tournament, and enters the competition as the No.1 seed for the first time since 2005. North Texas won the Sun Belt Regular Season in its last game, beating Denver in a winner-take-all matchup at the Mean Green Soccer Complex. Kelsey Hodges scored the games' only goal, and was named one of CollegeSoccer360's Prime-Time Performers for her effort. North Texas is 20-9-0 in the Sun Belt Tournament, and have won the championship the last two times they have entered as regular-season champs.

Hodges Powers Mean Green Past DenverSophomore defender Kelsey Hodges scored the game's only goal in the 5th minute of North Texas victory over Denver, that clinched the Sun Belt Regular Season for the Mean Green. Hodges took a free kick from beyond midfield that bounced into the net. She received national attention, as she was named one of CollegeSoccer360's Prime-Time Performers for her performance. The goal was Hodges' seventh of the year, with most of her goals coming on set pieces, and gave her goals in two straight games.

Penalty Kick FreeNorth Texas has never participated in a penalty shootout to determine advancement in a conference tournament or the NCAA Tournament. If after two overtimes in the Sun Belt Tournament and NCAA Tournaments, teams remained tied, the official result is a tie and a best-of-five penalty shootout is held.

North Texas' Offense Ranks 20th NationallyNorth Texas has had a strong offensive attack so far this season, ranking second in the Sun Belt Conference with 46 goals, and 13th in Division 1 with 2.42 goals per game. A testament to its offense, North Texas scored its most goals in a single game in since 2000 on Aug. 28 against Grambling with 11, the third-most in school history.

North Texas In The Sun Belt TournamentThe Mean Green have participated in 11 conference tournaments, and eight of those times the Mean Green have made the final. North Texas is 20-9-0 in the Sun Belt Tournament, and won the 2004 and 2005 editions of the tournament. North Texas is 10-1 in first round matches entering this year. When winning the regular season title, North Texas is 8-1 in Sun Belt Tournaments, have reached the final each time and won have won the tournament twice.

All We Do Is Win, No Matter WhatHaving clinched a winning season in 2011, North Texas has now never had a losing season in their 17 years as a program. Only North Carolina (29 seasons entering this year), William & Mary (29), Portland (25), Notre Dame (23), Stanford (23) and Penn State (17) have active streaks of more consecutive winning seasons entering this year.

Say Hello To Scarfone's Little FriendJunior midfielder Ellen Scarfone has been on a tear recently, scoring or assisting in seven out of nine Sun Belt games, giving her five goals and six assists over that span, bringing her into the national rankings. Scarfone ranks 59th in the nation and tied for first in the Sun Belt with eight assists, and leads the Sun Belt in league games with six assissts.

Forever YoungJunior Michelle Young was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on Sept. 27 for her three goals against Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. She is third in the Sun Belt Conference and ranks 33rd in the nation with 12 goals this season. She had a four goal, three assist weekend against Texas Southern and Grambling. She scored her first career hat trick at Texas Southern on Aug. 26, becoming the first North Texas player to have one since Aug. 27, 2010, and was the first of two straight hat tricks for the Mean Green. On Aug. 28, her three assists against Grambling made her the first NT player since Kendall Juett on Oct. 13, 2006 to have three or more assists in a game.

North Texas vs. TroyNorth Texas is 8-0-0 against Troy, including a 22-0 North Texas win in 1997, which is still the Mean Green's biggest win in school history. North Texas has outscored Troy 42-4 in the series, an average of 5.25 to 0.5 goals per game.

North Texas vs. Western KentuckyNorth Texas has an 9-6-1 all-time record against Western Kentucky, and beat the Hilltoppers 2-1 earlier this season. The Mean Green were knocked out of the Sun Belt Tournament by the Hilltoppers a year ago.

North Texas vs. Middle TennesseeNorth Texas leads the all-time series against Middle Tennessee, leading 9-5-2 after a 3-0 win this season. North Texas has only one loss to the Blue Raiders in its last five meetings, dropping the contest last year in Murfreesboro. Two of North Texas' four scoreless draws, including its most recent goaless game, have come against Middle Tennessee.

Jackie Says No!Freshman goalkeeper Jackie Kerestine has five shutouts in her last eight games, and has not allowed two goals in a single game since Sept. 18. Kerestine was named SoccerSavings.com/Dallas Soccer News Player of the Week on Oct. 3. She leads the SBC in Goals Against Average, Shutouts, and Save Percentage in league games, while she ranks second in the league in Goals Against Average (47th nationally) and tied for first in Shutouts in all games. She did what the USA Today named as one of the "Hardest 10 Things To Do In Sports," by saving a penalty kick against Middle Tennessee on Sept. 25, on the first spot kick she faced in her career. At 6-1 she is the tallest soccer player in the SBC and the third-tallest female athlete at NT. She is on pace to have the third-best single season GAA in North Texas history.

Scoreless First HalvesNorth Texas has not allowed a first half goal since Sept. 18, including the entire Sun Belt season, shutting out its opponent 15 times in the opening frame this year, going on to a 12-2-1 record in those games. North Texas has played eight scoreless first halves, and has a 5-2-1 record in those games.

Home Is Where The Wins AreNorth Texas is currently unbeaten in its last 14, including a 8-0-1 mark this season, and is 19-1-2 in their last 22 games at home. North Texas is riding a 14 game Sun Belt winning streak at the Mean Green Soccer Complex, and is 18-1 in their last 19 home conference games. North Texas is one of just three schools (also: North Carolina, 5 times, and Notre Dame, 4 times) in the nation to have two unbeaten streaks at home of 23 games or more in NCAA history. The Mean Green went unbeaten for 24 straight home games from Oct. 3, 1999 until Oct. 11, 2002, the 12th longest streak, NCAA history, then had a streak from Oct. 3, 2004 and didn't end until Oct. 22, 2007 that covered 23 straight games and is the 13th longest home unbeaten streak in NCAA history.

This Supposed To Be Y'all Year? Didn't Get The MemoNorth Texas is having one of the best years in school history, here are recaps of last times North Texas has accomplished feats before this year: 2000: Scored 11 goals in a game (Aug. 28) 2004: Gave up four or fewer goals in conference (4) 2005: Win Sun Belt Regular Season, Undefeated at home (8-0-1), Hat Tricks In Back-to-Back Games (Michelle Young, Aug. 26, Nikki Crocco, Aug. 28) 2006: Any NT Program beat SMU (Sept. 4), Player had three assists in a game (Young, Aug. 28) 2007: Unbeaten through six games (5-0-1), Started conference 5-0, Had a 12+ goal scorer (Young) 2009: Three straight shutouts (Sep. 25-Oct. 2)

Rain, Rain Go Away, That's What The Haters SayNorth Texas' game with South Alabama was rained out, marking the first time North Texas soccer has had a game cancelled due to weather since 2005, when a road game at Northwestern State and a home game against Texas Woman's were called off due to Hurricane Rita.

Goalkeeper HeritageJackie Kerestine has taken over the goalkeeper position, replacing Mandy Hall, who finished her North Texas career as the career leader in shutouts and saves. However, this is not the the first time Kerestine has helped replace Hall--both attended Colleyville Heritage High School, where Hall was keeper from 2005-07, and Kerestine from 2009-11. Both were named first team selections on the Fort Worth Star Telegram Super Team as high school seniors, with Kerestine being named Player of the Year. Kerestine led Colleyville Heritage to 19 straight shutouts as a senior, which spanned from January to overtime of the state title game.

Preseason PicksSophomore defender Kelsey Hodges and junior midfielder Ellen Scarfone were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team by the league's 12 coaches. Hodges led North Texas with nine goals in 2010, including a hat trick in her first career game. Scarfone was a 2010 All-Sun Belt pick and returns after a seven goal, nine assist season in 2010.